Continental DriftWhat is continental drift?

Continental Drift

! Continental Drift ! the theory that all of the continents were once joined together in a single landmass and have since drifted apart

Continental Drift

! Pangaea ! “all Earth” or name given to the super continent that existed 200 million years ago

Continental Drift

! Alfred Wegener, 1915

! German geologist and meteorologist

! Proposed the theory of continental drift

! Hypothesized a gigantic super continent

Continental Drift

Evidence

1. Similarities in the shape of Africa’s west coast and South America’s east coast

Jigsaw Fit of the Continents

Continental Drift

Evidence

2. Fossil remains of the Mesosaurus were found in South America and South Africa

Continental Drift

Evidence

3. Fossil remains of the Glossopteris were found throughout India, South America, Africa, and Antarctica

Fossil Evidence

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